Born of a poor coal-mining family in Cape Breton, Allan MacEachen emerged from these humble beginnings to become a great parliamentarian. One of the most influential policy makers in Canada, he was an architect of our social security system. He held a succession of cabinet posts and played a central role in major progressive social legislation passed through Parliament over the past three decades. He is also well known for his outstanding contributions to the Atlantic region as a long-serving senator and as an avid supporter of such organizations as St. Francis Xavier University and the North-South Institute.